Monday, March 14, 2011

Both of our scripture readings here this morning teach us about how we are to treat one another, how God wants us to treat one another.

In the first reading, we heard from the Book of Leviticus which emphasized doing no harm to a neighbor, to another and, therefore, most of the injunctions began by saying "you shall not," "do not." But Jesus in the Gospel takes [it] much further, and in effect he tells us, it's not enough just to do no wrong to someone else. He calls us to do good for others, that we are called to help one another. We are called to have compassion for one another, we are to have kindness in our hearts and translate that into doing good deeds for those in need. And so we are told that we are called to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, etc. And then Jesus also tells us that when we do acts of kindness and goodness towards others, we are doing it towards him. And so we are called to see the face of Jesus in those who need us.

And finally, Jesus tells us that the last judgement will be a process of separation: separating those who had love and kindness and compassion in their hearts and translated that into actions, good deeds for others, from those who did not care, who had no kindness, no compassion, no concern for others, went about their way in the journey of life, unconcerned about the needs of others.

So during this Lent, let's remember this injunction, teaching of Jesus. And let us find ways to be compassionate, to be kind, to be concerned in our dealings with others.

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